Man studying for test saves neighbor from burning house

A Snohomish County man studying for an exam Sunday morning saved his neighbor in the Lake Serene area from a burning house by using a ladder, a fire district spokeswoman said.

Snohomish County Fire District 1 crews learned of a blaze around 4:30 a.m. and responded to a house in the 5700 block of 145th Street Southwest, agency spokeswoman Leslie Hynes said.

Russ Huber was studying when he spotted flames in his neighbor’s living room. After he dialed 911, he rushed to the house and spotted a light come on and the owner in a second-story window.

As flames shot from the house, Huber spotted a ladder and set it up for his neighbor, a man, to escape. Hynes said it would have been impossible for the owner, who lives alone, to escape from the house by the front door.

The fire district dispatched 16 people, a ladder truck, two engine trucks and two medic units to the scene. Crews managed to have the fire under control within 30 minutes.

The Snohomish County Fire Marshal determined the blaze started in the fireplace and caused more than $130,000 in damages.

The owner told investigators that the house has smoke alarms. But Hynes said it was unclear if they were working. The smell of smoke actually woke up the owner, who said he was uncertain about hearing an alarm.